Cooking

Ok, no laughing, I for some unknown odd reason, have had the urge to cook rather than consume my normal grilled cheese or bowl of cereal for dinner. And I've learned my lesson.

If a recipe ever calls for anything “stuffed”, ignore it. I should’ve learned my lesson 15 years ago when I used to make spinach/ricotta manicotti. While they taste great, it’s about the messiest food prep ever. But, obviously memory fades over time, hence I tried a recipe for spinach/goat cheese stuffed chicken. Tasted ok (well, rather bland) and was extremely messy and somewhat difficult stuffing those breasts. And, they didn’t taste nearly as good as when my friend Betsy would make random stuffed chicken entrees without a recipe – just from the depths of her amazing cooking brain.

And, why is it people freak out if raw chicken is around but not raw beef or pork? What is it with chickens that makes salmonella (or whatever it is) a risk, but you can touch other raw meat without having to rush to the sink at the first blush of contact?

Time to catch up

Time to get caught up on postings since I’ve been such a slug the past few weeks! Topics to include my two weekends in Boston, Houston, and random ramblings.

But first – great news! I’ve discovered that The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are both on TV here every night (the previous night’s show from the US). How exciting – now I can get the “real” news. Two of my favorites from the US Thursday show were the phrase “Alabaster friends” to describe the ‘old white man’ scene in politics and when John Stewart said “Barack Obama has an adorable white war hero uncle?....[If I were him] every time I campaign down south I’m having him strapped into a Baby Bjorn.” Classic.

Travel

Heading off to Houston for a week of work this afternoon with some relaxing weekends before and after. I would say that I won't be able to post as much as normal, but as I've been such a delinquent in writing lately, you probably won't notice any change.

Houston in August? I know, but considering the location alternatives were Miami, Madrid or Trinidad, none were that cool!

Batman

Just watched Batman: The Dark Knight today.

I was not as enthralled by it as every reviewer seems to be. Maybe I was just expecting way too much because everyone has been writing that this is the best movie, acting, dialogue, etc. in a long time – perhaps my expectations were too high? The dialogue was great and it gave you a lot to think about, but you were given no time to do so as things moved along quickly. The action scenes weren’t all that grand either.

I think I’ll watch my favorite Batman movie tonight as I have it on DVD – the Batman with Michael Keaton (best Batman if you ask me) and the Joker (Jack Nicholson who did an amazing job). I think I like that Tim Burton version better.

Maybe I just need to watch The Dark Knight again? (on DVD, I’m not paying 10 GBP ($20) again!)

And, maybe I’m just in a funk because John Edwards admitted he had an affair (after denying it; while his wife was battling cancer; while he was in the midst of the highest echelons of politics). Ggggrrrrrrr. Another chink in my faith in humanity. Sigh. And, I just now read that Bernie Mac died. It’s cool and rainy in London. Time for a hot toddy.

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On

I am soooo happy - one of the two camping chairs I ordered came today! It is the kind that you can fold up and carry with you, complete with head rest, extended foot rest, and cup holder. Now, I can actually sit outside on my patio and relax. And that is just what I have been doing tonight. I have a feeling my remaining months in London will be spent this way!

Sure, it helps that I am reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. What a phenomenally amazing book. Its so well written, poignant, thought provoking…I wish I weren’t reading it so quickly so I could actually digest the larger issues, morality, consequences, etc. But the writing and story are just so good, I can barely put it down. I’m on page 200 and I just started reading it last night!

It just feels so good to sit and relax. I am in a bit of a funk right now with regard to work - just finding it difficult to be 200% motivated all the time. With all the merger stuff, trying to figure out who's moving when, who's responsible for what, who reports to whom, who has what title, when responsibilities are supposed to transfer, what IT platforms we're using, piecing together what someone heard from someone else that someone else was thinking about doing something or heard something...it's all a bit much. Things keep changing so quickly that when I think I have some of it figured out, the paradigm shifts again.

For tonight I'll just breathe in, breathe out, move on and sit and relax in my chair.

You Call It Joggin'

If anyone watches any of the Mazda London Triathlon this weekend, you will be watching the area around my flat. On the map, my flat is next to the #3 markers and almost in front of #2 (water side). I won't have a clear view from my flat as I face the inner courtyard area, but as soon as I step outside, I'll be on the run route!

My weekend, however, is hectic with plans both afternoons, but as Sunday races start about 7 a.m., I'll be able to watch some of that.